G-Side - made up of ST (Stephen Harris) and Clova (David Williams) - will perform today at 2:45 p.m. at The Parish in Austin. The gig is sponsored by National Public Radio and will be streamed live on NPR.org/SXSW and on several NPR member stations including some in New York, St. Paul and Philadelphia.

Other artist featured by NPR this year at SXSW include Spoon, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Surfer Blood, Broken Bells, The Walkmen, Visqueen, and more.

"I can't wait," ST said on Tuesday afternoon, hours before he, Clova and the rest of the 14-person crew took off for Austin. Others headed to the festival include the group's co-managers Codie G and Cory Parham, two back-up singers and others needed to put on a stellar show.

G-Side is the only hip-hop act NPR is highlighting at this year's conference. NPR contributor Andrew Noz, a former Vibe magazine writer, recommended G-Side for the set. Noz has written features on the duo in the past.

It's been an exciting three years for G-Side, who have been working with Huntsville's Slow Motion Soundz record company and the Block Beataz production team since 2004.After releasing their debut album "Sumthin' 2 Hate" in 2007 and its follow-up "Starshipz and Rocketz," G-Side has been featured in the New York Times, Pitchfork.com and several hip-hop blogs and radio shows.

G-Side's latest album, "Huntsville International," came out last year.

It's G-Side's sound that sets them apart from a lot of hip-hop acts, said Codie G, later playing a track filled with guitar riffs and soul-inspired female vocals.

"We have our own sound," he explained.

At today's SXSW gig, ST said he and Clova plan to dedicate the show to the families of Discovery Middle School shooting victim Todd Brown and those shot and killed at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

G-Side also plans to promote the city of Huntsville and the state of Alabama. Codie G said he's taking "Huntsville bags" loaded with authentic Huntsville gear. And ST may or may not show off his Saturn V tattoo, which covers his right leg.

The SXSW gig is important, ST said, not only for Huntsville hip-hop but for him personally. The last time he performed in Texas, ST was booed off stage.

"I got something to prove," ST said. "I'm positive I won't get booed off the stage this time."

When the G-Side returns to Huntsville, they'll be gearing up for two more high-profile shows: a supporting gig in Birmingham with the Wu Tang Clan's GZA on March 30 and the group's first international show in Norway in April.